SPEEDING continues to put lives at risk on the outskirts of Blairgowrie, campaigners claimed this week.

Despite Perth and Kinross Council putting up signs reducing the speed limit through most of Carsie from 50mph to 40mph, a stretch at the Perth end of the road remains at the original limit.

And locals say that its the most dangerous area.

Sandra Stewart told the Blairie: “We wanted the 40mph limit to extend right through Carsie, because now the new 50mph limit starts on a straight so drivers just put the foot down.

“This has actually made it worse because that stretch, where I live, has houses with concealed entrances. Before it was self-policing because the speed increase was just before a bend, so most drivers didn’t speed up that much. Now there’s nothing to stop them.”

Sandra, who explained that the problem has existed since she moved into the area nearly 20 years ago, said that she would like to see the 40mph extended right to where the road becomes 60mph at the end of the village.

“Although a lot of drivers stick to the limits, there are those who don’t, and it’s the Burnbank road end [the Perth side] which is more accident prone.”

Councillor Bob Ellis, who is standing as a candidate in the PKC elections this week, said: “I have been campaigning for a reduction from 60mph down to 40mph in Carsie, since I was first elected in 1995.

“We did get a reduction down to 50mph in 2000 but that is still not enough.

“Whilst out campaigning in Carsie this week the subject has been raised again by residents. There is now a 40mph speed sign up just before you get to Whiteloch Avenue, coming from the Perth direction but the residents are still in agreement that it should start at the entrance to Carsie Village which is at Burnbank.

“There have been some minor accidents in the area, a resident informed me this week and as a result I have renewed my campaign to get the 40mph speed limit extended out to Burnbank. I have regular meetings with the roads officers and they have agreed to look at this once more and I am really grateful to them for doing this.”

A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council explained that although there were no plans to extend the new speed limit, the situation would be monitored.

They said: “Following a recent speed limit review of all A and B class roads in the Perth and Kinross Council area, and speed monitoring on part of the A93 in the Carsie area, the Council has extended the 40mph limit on the northern part of the road, taking into account local housing density around Whiteloch Avenue and pedestrian activity along the footway to Blairgowrie.

“The speed limit on the rest of the A93 through Carsie will remain at 50mph. New road signs were erected last week, and the new speed limits will be kept under review with further site monitoring planned at Carsie in the future.”